Equipment using novel paper storage means

ABSTRACT

Paper storage, paper cutting and paper dispensing means are incorporated in a phototypesetting machine to allow a person to select various lengths of photosensitized copy material for delivery to a developer. Once the person makes a selection by operating a switch, paper is cut, withdrawn from the storage area and delivered into an attached developer. The phototypesetting process is interrupted only momentarily to accomplish this selection.

PATNTEDJUN l 1 um `SHEET 1 0F 4 VIII! INVENTOR.

M 5 M C This isv a continuation of i application, Ser. No. 829,305 filed.lune 2, 1969, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to improved means and techniques useful inphototypesetting machines in the printing and typesetting industry andmore specifically to an improved paper storage system useful not only inthis type of machine but also in other systems.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means andtechniques whereby existing phototype-setting machines may be used togreater advantage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved means andtechniques whereby an improved paper storage, paper cutting and paperdispensing means may be usedas an adjunct to existing equipment suchthat a person may now select and have developed various lengths of copymaterial.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved means andtechniques involving novel paper storage means into which and from whichvariable lengths of paper may be dispensed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedphototypesetting machine in which various lengths of copy material maybe produced and selected and dispensed into a developer without thenecessity of adversely interrupting the photosensitizing process. l

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedphototypesetting machine in which during virtually continuous operationof the photosensitizing process, various lengths, as desired, of copymaterial may be dispensed and developed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved paperstorage means into which paper may be stored and from which it may besubsequently dispensed without the necessity of interrupting the normalfeed of the paperinto the storage structure.

The features vof the present invention which are believed to be novelareset forth with particularity in the appended claims. This inventionitself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood byreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is in general a top plan view, partly in section,

of apparatus embodying features of the present invenl FIG. 3 but in adifferent operating position.

FIG. 6 is a view taken as indicated b y the line 6-6 in FIG. l.

FIG. 7 is a view taken as indicated by the lines 7-7 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of some of the apparatus illustratedin the previous figures in a new system also embodying features of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modified form of the invention. Referring to FIG.8, the invention is described in relationship to a phototypesettingmachine wherein sensitized paper P supplied on a paper supply spool I0is intermittently driven by an intermittent paper drive 12 past asensitizing station 13. At station 13 light from a light source 14 isreflected from a drum (disc) l5 onto the paper P. Drum (Disc) 1S is aso-called Alpha- Numeric drum (disc) which is indexed in accordance withinformation perforated on a tape 16.

Following conventional techniques the composer of a newspaper storyoperates certain keys of the tape perforator 17 to produce perforationsin such tape 16 and such perforations are then read out by a read-outdevice 18 and the information from such read-out device is used to indexthe light-reflecting drum (disc) l5 accordingly. This requires alight-tight enclosure and such enclosure is represented by the dottedlines 20.

The paper P may, for example, have a width of up to eight inches and maybe intermittently driven at a rate of 12 to 200 advances per minute, forexample 45 advances per minute which corresponds generally to onehalf offoot of tape travel in one minute. During. those intervals when thepaper P remains stationary there is a transverse scanning action duringwhich the paper is sequentially sensitized with information in atransverse direction, i.e. during each stationary interval one line ofinformation is presented to the exposed sensitized l film or paper P.After completion'of such one line of information, the intermittentlymoved paper is moved by the intermittent paper drive 1.2 so that thenext adjacent line may be exposed to information established by indexedpositions of drum (disc) 15. For purposes of simplicity, such paperdrive 12 is illustrated as incorporating a ratchet wheel 12A cooperatingwith a pawl 12B. The pawl 12B is moved each time the solenoid 12C isenergized which causes the solenoid armature 12D to move downwardly inFIG. 8 and move the pawl and ratchet 12B, 12A to the next indexedposition of the paper drive 12. The paper drive I2 has a roller 12F.against which the paper P may be pressed by a springurged roller'lZE ormay be a sprocket wheel engaging perforations in the paper P. Suchsolenoid 12C is periodically energized at the time of completion of eachl line of information, i.e. at the end of each scan and this conditionis illustrated in FIG. 8 wherein the coil 12C is connected to a means 22which develops an electrical output-each time the drum l5 has presenteda full line of information to the paper P.

Note that the pawl 12B is pivoted at a point intermediate its ends andone end ofthe pawl is pivoted to the lower end of the armature 12D.

In conventional machines usually the paper P is in a so-called magazinewhich includes a paper supply spool and a paper take-up spool such thatit was then necessary to stop operation of the phototypesetting machinein order to have access to the paper for its photographic development.One aspect of the present invention involves the fact' that a papertake-up spool is no longer required. Indeed in accordance with otheraspects of the present invention existing phototypesetting machines of,for example, Photon,vInc. of Wilmington, Massachusetts, may be adaptedso that instead of the paper going to its supply spool (whichis not nowused in accordance with the present invention) the paper enters a paperchute 24. Also in accordance with features of the present invention suchexisting phototypesetting machine manufactured by Photon, Inc. nowembodies a paper cutter 26 which is part of a paper cutting mechanism 28as indicated by the dotted line 27. This mechanism 28 may be energizedonly when conditions are satisfied as described later.

The paper guide or chute 24 serves to guide the paper in its movementtowards a paper stop 30 which is normally positioned to block or preventmovement of the paper into the paper guide o'r chute 32 which leads tothe developer 33. This stop 30, however, may be retracted to allowmovement of such paper into chute 32,`such retraction of stop 30 beingeffected by energization of a solenoid 34 as described later.

One important feature of the present invention is that such paper guideor chute 24 has an opening 36 which communicates the chute 24 with alarge chamber 38, such chamber 38 defining a storage zone into whichpaper may enter and be stored as now described.

Paper storage results when the leading edge of the paper P engages thestop 30 in which case operation of the paper drive 12 causes the papersection adjacent the opening 36 to buckle and pass through such opening36 into the storage zone 38. Such storage process terminates when thepaper stop 30 is withdrawn to allow the leading edge of the paper toenter the paper guide 32. Simultaneously with withdrawl offthe'paperstop 30 a feed wheel 40 is caused to rotate to provide a positive drivefor the paper into chute 32. As illustrated, this wheel 40 is in itsnormal position illustrated in FIG 8 wherein the flat portion 40A isspaced from a roller 250. However, when the wheel 40 is caused torotate, its round portion causes the paper P to be pressed or sandwichedbetween itself and the roller 250 to provide the previously mentionedpositive drive. Also it will be seen in FIG. 8 that a switch-actuatingelement 48 extends through the chute 24 and engages the top side of thepaper p which by its presence causes the associated paper sensing switch50 to close. ln this closed position of switch 50 which is in a seriescircuit with voltage source 52 and light bulb 53, the bulb 53 isenergized thereby producing a visual indication that the leading edge ofthe paper P has passed the feed wheels 40.

The previously mentioned wheel 40 is drivable by the paper drive motor60 which when energized, as described later, causes the wheel 40 to berotated through only 360 after which the wheel 40 assumes its at-restcondition illustrated in FIG. 8`wherein the flat portion of the roller40 allows passage of paper. The circumferential distance of wheel 40 issufficiently long so that when operated it causes paper to be driveninto and through chute 32 to the developer rollers 62 and 64 in thedeveloper 33. The roller 62 is drivable by the developer drive motor 66as indicated by the dotted lines 67.

It is further noted that the developer rollers 62 and 64 when operatedcause the paper to be moved at a greater lineal speed than the averagespeed of paper movement caused by the paper drive 12 for purposes whichwill be made clear from the following description of the operation ofthe system shown in FIG. 8.

In the operation of the system shown in FIG. 8, paper from a supplyspool is intermittently driven past the photographing station 13 whereline-for-line information is recorded on the paper P. Such recordingprocess on a line-by-line basis continues with the paper P being drivenby the paper drive 12 through the chute 24 until the leading edge of thepaper engages the stop 30 after which further movement of the paper bythe drive l2 causes the paper to buckle at the opening 36 and to entersuch opening 36 into the storage zone 38 where the paper thenaccumulates. During this accumulation of paper in the storage zone 38,the paper sensing switch 50 in the form of a microswitch with itsactuator 48 is in a closed position causing the light bulb 53 to be lit.An operator then is aware of the fact that paper is being accumulatedand he may allow the paper to accumulate for a predetermined length oftime corresponding to the length of a particular story or article. Uponthe completion of typesetting of a particular story or article and hewishes the paper to be developed so that it may be read, he advances thelast characters set through photographing station 13 beyond paper cutter26 (provisions are available on the conventional phototypesettingmachine to accomplish this) and then closes the momentary type of pushbutton switch 70. Closure of such switch 70 results in simultaneousenergization of the paper stop solenoid 34, the paper drive motor andthe developer drive motor 66,. and the paper cutter mechanism 28 whichcauses the paper cutting wheel 26 to rotate and cut the paper at 72.Energization of the solenoid 34 causes the -stop 30 to be withdrawn. Thewheels 40 rotate thorugh one revolution causing the paper to betransferred to the roller 62 which is now being rotated lby its drivemotor 66 and at a speed which causes the paper to travel faster than thespeed at which the paper is being delivered by the drive 12. Immediatelysubsequent to the closure of switch 70, the phototypesetting operationcan be resumed by actuating conventional controls on thephototypesetting apparatus.

All paper originally between the stop 30 and the point 72 at the time ofpaper cutting including that paper in thestorage chamber 38 is rapidlytransferred into the developer 33 by the roller 62 and this isaccomplished at such rapid speed that all paper is free of the opening36 prior to arrival of the leading edge of the next section of paperbeing driven through the chute 24 by the paper drive 12. After thetrailing edge of the cut paper section travels under the switch actuator48 the switch 50 opens thereby deenergizing the light 53 whereby thenormal function of push button switch is inactivated until switch 50closes again. Also when such trailing edge of the cut paper sectionmoves from under the stop 30, the stop 30 returns downwardly to againprovide an abutment for arresting movement of the leading edge of thenext paper section when and as it arrives at such stop 30. When suchleading edge arrives, it operates the actuator 48 to close switch 50 tothereby provide an indication on light 53 and also further operation ofthe paper drive l2 causes the paper again to buckle at 36 and to enterthe storage zone 38 from which the paper may again be retrieved andtransferred into the developer 33 as previously described.

Now referring to FIGS. l-7, the corresponding parts therein havereference numerals identical to those of corresponding parts in FIG. 8.Thus referring to FIGS. l and 6, it will be seen that the paper supplyroll l0 is within a light-tight housing or magazine which is part of themodified Photon machine. Such magazine 100 is modified to incorporate apart of the chute 24 and such chute 24 has atransverse opening intowhich the newly added paper cutting wheel 26 may extend. Theintermittently driven paper drive is illustrated by the roller l2 whichis intermittently driven using the conventional drive therefor found inthe Photon commercial equipment. The take-up reel normally found in thecommercial Photon equipment is not used and hence is not illustrated.

The cutting wheel 26 is rotatably mounted on the end of an arm 26Aextending from a block 26B which is slidably mounted on a transverselyextending stationary rod 26C. This block 26B has attached theretoopposite ends of a cord 28A which is trained around a pulley 28B drivenby motor 28C and also trained over stationary guide pulleys 28E and 28F,all forming part of the paper cutter mechanism illustrated at 28 in FIG.8. The cutter wheel 26 travels somewhat more than the whole length ofthe paper each time the motor 28C is energized. The cutter wheel 26travels in one direction only for each energization of the motor 28C buta succeeding energizationof the motor 28C causes the wheel 26 tomove inthe opposite direction. In other words, with reference to FIG. 1 thefirst energization of the motor and hence rotation of pulley 28B causesthe cutting wheel 26 to move downwardly and then stop; and thesucceeding energization of the motor and consequent rotationof pulley28B causes the cutting wheel 26 to return to its upward position shownin FIG. l. For these purposes the motor 28C may be a reversible motorwhich reverses its direction-of rotation each time it is energized andalso in accordance with conventional practice such rotation whenever itoccurs may be within prescribed limits corresponding to somewhat greaterthan the width of the paper P to be cut. At the extreme ends of suchmovement of block 26B, i.e. the cutting wheel 26, the cutting wheel ofcourse does not engage the paper. While one particular form of a papercutting mechanism has been described it is of course understood thatother forms of `paper cutting mechanismsmay be used in conjunction withthe novel teachings of the present invention.

With further reference to FIG. 6, it will be noted that a light-tightenclosure 110 includes a part of the chute 24 which is in register withthe paper chute 24 within the magazine 100 and such light-tight chamberdefines the paper storage chamber 38 so indicated by the referencenumeral 38 in FIG. 8. Also, it will be seen that the chute 24 has theopening 36 which is defined by the upwardly extending lip portions 136Aand 136B, each of which is curved to provide minimum interference withpaper movement.

This light-tight enclosure 110 rotatably supports a shaft 40B upon whicha pair of paper engageable rollers 40 is mounted together with a drivegear 122, the gear 122 being in mesh with a gear 124 driven by the paperdrive motor 60. In accordance with the foregoing description, each timethe motor 60 is energized the paper drive rollers 40 rotate only through360 so that in the at-rest position of the rollers 40 the flat portion40A of each roller 40 does not interfere with paper travel. Such onerevolution only of the paper feed or transfer rollers 40 is accomplishedusing a microswitch 130 (FIG. 3) having its actuating element 130Aengageable with a cam member 132 carried on one of the rollers 40. Theswitch 130 is in its opened position when the condition illustrated inFIG. 3 exists. Such switch 130 may be connected in parallel with themogage the paper, the paper is pressed between the wheels 40 and rollers250 in a driving connection that causes the paper to be transferred tothe motor-driven roller 62 in developer 33. It will be noted that thedeveloper drive motor 66 in FIG. 8 for driving the roller 62 isenergized at the same time the paper drive motor 60 is energized. Toassure continued rotation of the motor 66 after the switches 70 and 130are opened, the developer drive motor 66 may be time controlled suchthat once the motor 66 is energized the same remains energized for apredetermined period of time until a timing circuit times itself out.This condition is illustrated in FIG. 8 wherein closure of the switch 70results in energization of the solenoid or relay coil 150 to cause theswitch 152 to close and the switch 152 remains closed until theassociated timer 154 times itself out after which the switch 152 opens.Using this technique, the developer drive roller 62 remains energizedfor a period longer than the feed wheel 40. The timer 154 is set so asto assure withdrawal into the developer of all cut paper including largeamounts which may have been stored in the paper storage chamber 38.

The previously mentioned paper sensing switch 50 with its actuator 48 isillustrated in FIGS. l and 2 and as seen the actuator 52 may extend intothe paper chute 24 when there is no paper present to thereby prevent thelight 53 from being lit and from rendering the control circuitineffective. However, as previously ex plained, when there is paperpresent the actuator 52 causes the switch 50 to close whereupon thelight 53 is lit and the control circuit may then be operated by closingthe manually operated push buttom switch 70.

The stop member 30 previously described in FIG. 8 is illustrated'in FIG.4 and .is in the form of a U-shaped member having its legs extendableinto the paper chute 24. The stop 30 is connected to the solenoidarmature 34A. When the solenoid 34 is energized, the legs of the stopmember 30 are withdrawn from the chute 24 to allow passage of the paperand when the solenoid 34 is subsequently deenergized these legs may thenrest on the paper either by gravity forces or such stop member 30 may bepressed downwardly by coil compression spring (not shown). Thus duringtransfer of the paper.

into the developer 34 the stop member 30 rides on top of the paper andafterthe trailing edge of the cut paper section reaches the stop 30 thestop 30 then falls or is spring-pressed downwardly to serve as anabutment for preventing the next section of paper from going into thedeveloper without first being stored in the storage chamber 38.

The developer 33 may be of conventional type such as the Kodak Ektamatic214 developer with its paper chute 24 in registry with the paper chute24 of the intermediate paper arresting, paper sensing, and paper storagevstructure 110. Indeed that structure is adapted to fit between thecommercial Photon equipment and the commercial Kodak equipment 33, andto function in combination therewith as described above.

In another formiof the invention illustrated in FIG. 9 the web materialis again temporarily stored in a storage chamber 300 through an opening301 located at an intermediate point in a chute having an entranceportion 302 and an exit portion 303. This corresponds generally to'thearrangement in FIG. 8 where the corresponding chute entrance portion isat 24, the exit portion is at 32 and the opening 36 to the storagechamber 38 is at a point intermediate the entrance and exit portions 24and 32.

ln this instance in FIG. 9, however, the paper, foil or web P isdirected into the storage chamber 300 without the aid of a stop as, forexample, the stop 30 of FIG. 8. The paper is subsequently dispensed fromsuch storage chamber 300 through the exit chute portion 303 intodeveloper 33. In this transfer from storage chamber 300 to the exitchute portion 303 a gate 305 may be actuated to a position blocking theupper end of the entrance chute portion 302 to assure movement of theleading edge of such paper from storage chamber 300 to the exit chuteportion 303.

The feed wheel 308 having the flattened portion is rotated in acounterclockwise direction to transfer paper cut by cutter assembly 310into storage chamber 300, the direction of rotation of such feed wheel308 being subsequently reversed (after the gate 305 is in position) todrive the paper out of storage chamber 300 into exit chute means 303 anddeveloper 33.

During the printing of a story or article the sensitized paper is drivenby the conventional paper feed means in the conventional unit 314through the entrance chute portion 302 and through opening 301 into thestorage chamber 300.

As before, the conventional associated type-setting machine hasconventional means which when actuated as, for example, upon completionof a story or article cause the paper P with the remaining or endportion of such story or article thereon to be advanced slightly beyondthe cutter assembly 310 so that a subsequent cutting operation performedby such assembly 310 does not cut into the story on the paper. With thepaper so advanced and stationary, the cutter assembly 310 may then beoperated toisever the paper.

After the paper is so severed, the feed wheel 308 is driven in acounterclockwise direction to transfer all cut paper past the opening301 after which the gate 305 is operated to close the upper portion ofchute 302 and the wheel 308 is driven in the reverse direction intoengagement with the motor-driven wheel 62 in developer 33. After all ofsuch paper is thus transferred into the developer 33 as sensed by thepaper sensing switch 351 and so indicated using that switch to energizean indicating lamp, the machine may again be set in operation with thestory printed on the paper being again transferred through the entrancechute portion 302 and opening 301 into the storage chamber.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from theinvention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appendedclaims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue spirit land scope of this invention.

l claim:

l. ln an arrangement of the character described, chute means throughwhich web material, as for example paper, or film, may be transferredfrom an entrance region to an exit region of said chute means; a webmaterial storage chamber; said chamber communicating with anintermediate portion of said chute means through an opening which isbetween said entrance and exit regions; web material controlling meansfor controlling movement of said web material through said chute means;web material drive means for driving said web material through saidchute means and through said opening into said storage chamber; a secondpaper drive means between said storage chamber and said exit region; andcontrol means to allow passage of said web material; means for operatingsaid second paper drive means to drive said web material from saidchamber to said exit region; web material cutting means near saidentrance region; means for operating said cutting means; said seconddrive means driving said web matcrial at a higher speed than does thefirst-mentioned drive means; switch means located near said second drivemeans and being actuated by paper near said second drive means; andindicating means energized by said switch means. f

2. In an arrangement of the character described, chute means throughwhich web material, as for example paper, or film, may be transferredfrom an entrance region to an exit region of said chute means; a webmaterial storage chamber; said chamber communicating with anintermediate portion of said chute means through an opening which isbetween said entrance and exit regions; web material controlling meansfor conv trolling movement of said web material through said chutemeans; web material drive means for driving said web material `throughsaid chute means and through said opening into said storage chamber;second paper drive means between said storage chamber and said exitregion; and control means to allow passage of said web material; meansforoperating said second paper drive means to drive said web materialfrom said charnber to said exit region; web material cutting means nearsaid entrance region; means for operating said cutting means; saidsecond drive means including a wheel with a flat thereon normallypositioned to face adjacent the paper and be spaced therefrom; and meanseffective to rotate said wheel when said second drive means is operatedto cause the round portion of said roller to engage and move the webmaterial. n

3. In an arrangement of the character described, chute means throughwhich web material, as for example paper, or film, may be transferredfrom an entrance region to an exit region of said chute means; a webmaterial storage chamber; said chamber communicating with anintermediate portion of said chute means through an opening which isbetween said entrance and exit regions; first web material drive meansfor driving said web material through said chute means and out of saidexit region; second web material drive means for driving said webmaterial through said opening into said storage chamber, said firstdrive means serving to drive said web material at a greater linear speedthan said second drive means, and web material severingv means betweensaid first and second drive means for severing said material into atrailing portion and a leading portion with a section of the leadingportion having been previously driven by said scond drive means throughsaid opening into said storage chamber, said first drive means engagingsaid severed leading portion and driving the same at a substantiallygreater linear speed than the linear speed at which said trailingportion is moved by said second drive means such that the said leadingportion leaves said storage chamber prior to arrival at said storagechamber opening of the leading edge of said trailing portion; said firstdrive means including a wheel with a flat thereon normally positioned toface adjacent the web material and be spaced therefrom; and meanseffective to rotate said wheel when said first drive means is operatedto cause the round portion of said roller to engage and move the webmaterial and, a stop member positionable to engage said leading edge ofsaid trailing portion and arrest its movement after traveling under saidwheel fiat to cause said web material to then enter said storage chamberopening, and means for moving said stop member to allow passage of saidweb material.

4. In an arrangement of the character described, chute means throughwhich web material, as for example paper, or film, may be transferredfrom an entrance region to van exit region of said chute means; a webmaterial storage chamber; said chamber communicating with anintermediate portion of said chute means through an opening which isbetween said entrance and exit regions; first web material drive meansfor driving said web material through said chute means and out of saidexit region;'second web material drive means for driving said webmaterial through said opening into said storage chamber, said firstdrive means serving to drive said web material at a greater linear speedthan said second drive means, and web material severing means betweensaid first and second drive means for severing said material into atrailing portion and a leading portion with a section of' the leadingportion having been previously driven by said second drive means throughsaid opening into said storage chamber, saidv first drivemeans engagingsaid severed leading portion and driving the same at a substantiallygreater linear speed than the linear speed at which said trailingportion is moved by said second drive means such that the said leadingportion leaves said storage'chamber prior to arrival at said storagechamber opening of the leading edge of said trailing portion; movablemeans in said chute means for preventing web movement in one direction;said movable means being a stop member movable to a position to engagesaid leading edge of said trailing portion after said leading edgeismoved past a location where said first drive means is located.

5. An arrangement as set forth in claim 4 including means to actuatesaidsevering means to sever said web material; means for renderingl saidstop member ineffective and means to actuate said first drive means.

6. In an arrangement of the character described, chute means throughwhich web material, as for example paper, or film, may be transferredfrom an entrance region to an exit region of said chute means; a webmaterial storage chamber; said chamber communicating withr anintermediate portion of said chute means through an opening which isbetween said entrance and exit regions; first web material drive meansfor driving said web material through said chute means and out of saidexit region; second web material drive means for driving said lwebmaterial through said opening into said storage chamber, said firstdrive means serving to drive said web material at a greater linear speedthan said second drive means, and web material severing means betweensaid first and second drive means for severing said material into atrailing portion and a leading portion with a section of the leadingportion having been previously driven by said second drive means throughsaid opening into said storage chamber, said first drive means engagingsaid severed leading portion and driving the same at a substantiallygreater linear speed than the linear speed at which said trailingportion is moved by said second drive means such that the said leadingportion leaves said storage chamber prior to arrival at said storagechamber opening of the leading edge of said trailing portion; movablemeans in said chute means for preventing web movement in onc direction;said movable means being an element in said entrance portion whichallows said leading edge of said trailing portion to enter said openingand said storage chamber but which prevents web material in said storagechamber from returning into said entrance portion so as to assuredispensing of said web material in said storage chamber into said exit.

7. An arrangement as set forth in claim 4 including a paper sensingswitch located closely adjacent to said stop member and actuated by theweb material engaging said stop member.

8. An arrangement as set forth in claim 7 including indicating meansenergized by said switch.

9. An arrangement as set forthin claim 4 including a paper sensitiveswitch located closely adjacent to said stop member and actuated by webmaterial whose motion is arrested by said stop member; means foractuating said severing means to sever said web material; means forrendering said stop member ineffective; means for actuating said firstdrive means and said paper sensitive switch being effective to controleach of the last three recited means.

l0. In an arrangement of the character described, chute means throughwhich web material, as for example paper, or film, may be transferredfrom an entrance region to an exit region of said chute means; a webmaterial storagev chamber, said chamber communicating with anintermediate portion of said chute means through an opening which isbetween said entrance and exit regions; first web material drive meansfor driving said web material through and out of said chuteexit region;second web material drive means paperv feed means in unit for drivingsaid web material through said opening into said storage chamber, saidfirst drive means serving to drive said web material at a greater linearspeed than said second drive means, and web material severing meansbetween said first and second drive means for severing said materialinto a trailing portion and a leading portion with a section of theleading portion having been previously driven by said second drive meansthrough said opening into said storage chamber, said first drive meansengaging said severed leading portion and driving the same at asubstantially greater linear speed than the linear speed at which saidtrailing portion is moved by said second drive means such that the saidleading portion leaves said storage chamber and past said opening priorto arrival at said storage chamber opening of the leading edge of saidtrailing portion, movable means in said chute means `near said openingpreventing the trailing edge of said leading portion from entering saidchute entrance portion when and as said leading portion is being drivenout of said storage chamber by said first drive means.

l1. An arrangement as set forth in claim l0 in which said first drivemeans is movable in a first direction to transfer said leading portionfrom said entrance region and is movable in a second direction oppositeto said first direction to transfer said leading portion from saidstorage chamber into and through said chute exit region.

l2. An arrangement as set forth in claim ll in whichl

1. In an arrangement of the character described, chute means throughwhich web material, as for example paper, or film, may be transferredfrom an entrance region to an exit region of said chute means; a webmaterial storage chamber; said chamber communicating with anintermediate portion of said chute means through an opening which isbetween said entrance and exit regions; web material controlling meansfor controlling movement of said web material through said chute means;web material drive means for driving said web material through saidchute means and through said opening into said storage chamber; a secondpaper drive means between said storage chamber and said exit region; andcontrol means to allow passage of said web material; means for operatingsaid second paper drive means to drive said web material from saidchamber to said exit region; web material cutting means near saidentrance region; means for operating said cutting means; said seconddrive means driving said web material at a higher speed than does thefirst-mentioned drive means; switch means located near said second drivemeans and being actuated by paper near said second drive means; andindicating means energized by said switch means.
 2. In an arrangement ofthe character described, chute means through which web material, as forexample paper, or film, may be transferred from an entrance region to anexit region of said chute means; a web material storage chamber; saidchamber communicating with an intermediate portion of said chute meansthrough an opening which is between said entrance and exit regions; webmaterial controlling means for controlling movement of said web materialthrough said chute means; web material drive means for driving said webmaterial through said chute means and through said opening into saidstorage chamber; second paper drive means between said storage chamberand said exit region; and control means to allow passage of said webmaterial; means for operating said second paper drive means to drivesaid web material from said chamber to said exit region; web materialcutting means near said entrance region; means for operating saidcutting means; said second drive means including a wheel with a flatthereon normally positioned to face adjacent the paper and be spacedtherefrom; and means effective to rotate said wheel when said seconddrive means is operated to cause the round portion of said roller toengage and move the web material.
 3. In an arrangement of the characterdescribed, chute means through which web material, as for example paper,or film, may be transferred from an entrance region to an exit region ofsaid chute means; a web material storage chamber; said chambercommunicating with an intermediate portion of said chute means throughan opening which is between said entrance and exit regions; first webmaterial drive means for driving said web material through said chutemeans and out of said exit region; second web material drive means fordriving said web material through said opening into said storagechamber, said first drive means serving to drive said web material at agreater linear speed than said second drive means, and web materialsevering means between said first and second drive means for severingsaid material into a trailing portion and a leading portion with asection of the leading portion having been previously driven by saidscond drive means through said opening into said storage chamber, saidfirst drive means engaging said severed leading portion and driving thesame at a substantially greater linear speed than the linear speed atwhich said trailing portion is moved by said second drive means suchthat the said leading portion leaves said storage chamber prior toarrival at said storage chamber opening of the leading edge of saidtrailing portion; said first drive means including a wheel with a flatthereon normally positioned to face adjacent the web material and bespaced therefrom; and means effective to rotate said wheel when saidfirst drive means is operated to cause the round portion of said rollerto engage and move the web material and, a stop member positionable toengage said leading edge of said trailing portion and arrest itsmovement after traveling under said wheel flat to cause said webmaterial to then enter said storage chamber opening, and means formoving said stop member to allow passage of said web material.
 4. In anarrangement of the character described, chute means through which webmaterial, as for example paper, or film, may be transferred from anentrance region to an exit region of said chute means; a web materialstorage chamber; said chamber communicating with an intermediate portionof said chute means through an opening which is between said entranceand exit regions; first web material drive means for driving said webmaterial through said chute means and out of said exit region; secondweb material drive means for driving said web material through saidopening into said storage chamber, said first drive means serving todrive said web material at a greater linear speed than said second drivemeans, and web material severing means between said first and seconddrive means for severing said material into a trailing portion and aleading portion with a section of the leading portion having beenpreviously driven by said second drive means through said opening intosaid storage chamber, said first drive means engaging said severedleading portion and driving the same at a substantially greater linearspeed than the linear speed at which said trailing portion is moved bysaid second drive means such that the said leading portion leaves saidstorage chamber prior to arrival at said storage chamber opening of theleading edge of said trailing portion; movable means in said chute meansfor preventing web movement in one direction; said movable means being astop member movable to a position to engage said leading edge of saidtrailing portion after said leading edge is moved past a location wheresaid first drive means is located.
 5. An arrangement as set forth inclaim 4 including means to actuate said severing means to sever said webmaterial; means for rendering said stop member ineffective and means toactuate said first drive means.
 6. In an arrangement of the characterdescribed, chute means through which web material, as for example paper,or film, may be transferred from an entrance region to an exit region ofsaid chute means; a web material storage chamber; said chambercommunicating with an intermediate portion of said chute means throughan opening which is between said entrance and exit regions; first webmaterial drive means for driving said web material through said chutemeans and out of said exit region; second web material drive means fordriving said web material through said opening into said storagechamber, said first drive means serving to drive said web material at agreater linear speed than said second drive means, and web materialsevering means between said first and second drive means for severingsaid material into a trailing portion and a leading portion with asection of the leading portion having been previously drIven by saidsecond drive means through said opening into said storage chamber, saidfirst drive means engaging said severed leading portion and driving thesame at a substantially greater linear speed than the linear speed atwhich said trailing portion is moved by said second drive means suchthat the said leading portion leaves said storage chamber prior toarrival at said storage chamber opening of the leading edge of saidtrailing portion; movable means in said chute means for preventing webmovement in one direction; said movable means being an element in saidentrance portion which allows said leading edge of said trailing portionto enter said opening and said storage chamber but which prevents webmaterial in said storage chamber from returning into said entranceportion so as to assure dispensing of said web material in said storagechamber into said exit.
 7. An arrangement as set forth in claim 4including a paper sensing switch located closely adjacent to said stopmember and actuated by the web material engaging said stop member.
 8. Anarrangement as set forth in claim 7 including indicating means energizedby said switch.
 9. An arrangement as set forth in claim 4 including apaper sensitive switch located closely adjacent to said stop member andactuated by web material whose motion is arrested by said stop member;means for actuating said severing means to sever said web material;means for rendering said stop member ineffective; means for actuatingsaid first drive means and said paper sensitive switch being effectiveto control each of the last three recited means.
 10. In an arrangementof the character described, chute means through which web material, asfor example paper, or film, may be transferred from an entrance regionto an exit region of said chute means; a web material storage chamber,said chamber communicating with an intermediate portion of said chutemeans through an opening which is between said entrance and exitregions; first web material drive means for driving said web materialthrough and out of said chute exit region; second web material drivemeans paper feed means in unit for driving said web material throughsaid opening into said storage chamber, said first drive means servingto drive said web material at a greater linear speed than said seconddrive means, and web material severing means between said first andsecond drive means for severing said material into a trailing portionand a leading portion with a section of the leading portion having beenpreviously driven by said second drive means through said opening intosaid storage chamber, said first drive means engaging said severedleading portion and driving the same at a substantially greater linearspeed than the linear speed at which said trailing portion is moved bysaid second drive means such that the said leading portion leaves saidstorage chamber and past said opening prior to arrival at said storagechamber opening of the leading edge of said trailing portion, movablemeans in said chute means near said opening preventing the trailing edgeof said leading portion from entering said chute entrance portion whenand as said leading portion is being driven out of said storage chamberby said first drive means.
 11. An arrangement as set forth in claim 10in which said first drive means is movable in a first direction totransfer said leading portion from said entrance region and is movablein a second direction opposite to said first direction to transfer saidleading portion from said storage chamber into and through said chuteexit region.
 12. An arrangement as set forth in claim 11 in which saidfirst drive means includes a web engaging roller having a flat portionwhich is stationarily positioned during initial operation of said seconddrive means to allow said web material to pass into said storage chamberand which is subsequently rotated after operation of said severing meansto engage and drive the severed leading portion into said storagechamber.